West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-12-01
A DETECTIVES STORIES.

In my profession rs detective have
often been asked il ! believed in the
virtue OF circumstantial evidence. In
every instance l have replied in the
affirmative. While the profession may
make man hard-heartcd and anxious
10 convict, 1t Is nevertheless
q certain fact that complete
chain OF circumstantial evidence
;gainst n criminal will settle his case
sooner than half dozen respectable
witnesses. Lawyers can browbeat and
0nfuse witnesses, and the veracity OF
witness can be slurred or impeachcd,
nut when you strike against circum-
stance 1t is not so easy TO step over it
nr explain it away. / have been an
interested party in two cases where
'drcumstantial evidence convicted the
'Erong persons, but still, if on a Jury
'Fhere circumstances were against the
prisoner, l should not hesitate to weigh
everything against him.
Many years ago, when / was a young
nan of eighteen, i ran away from my
Uncle, to whom was apprcnticcd. lie
lad farm near Liverpool, Medina
Oounty, Ohio, and he was man who
'b"N hSe OhN JOA W ljlAg lOl OI mercy on
inan or animal. His wife lived in NOR
tal fear of him, and a look from him
Vould make his children tremble. Our
family lived q hundred miles away. and
'ge knew little or nothing Of Uncle
,llbcz. He came out on a visit, seemed
10 take liking to me, and he gave my
father 500 to apprentice me for three
ycars. i liked farm work, and as Uncle
VIZ hio l.oh a, a..
visiting u, Twas by no means opposed TO
the arrangement. No sooner had we
arrived at his home than he became
iyrant and slave driver. / was over
worked, half fed, scoldcd, and NAL
treated, and one night, after tho promise
vt good licking" in tho morning,
tied up my few personal effects, dropped
from my chamber window and set out
for Cleveland. Uncle Jabcz was n man
who would demand his pound of flesh
md more. If returned home he would
follow on and make me n captive. As
soon as he missed me he would raise a
great hue and cry over the country, and
j felt that my only safe course was to
reach some large city and lose myself in
the mass.
The farm was twenty-five miles from
Cleveland. l could have walked the
distance in seven hours, as it was a cool
autumn night, and the roads were good,
but for tho first ten miles did not dare
use the highway. Teens were coming
bnd going and farmers moving about,
and wanted to cover my tracks from
Uncle Jabcz. With the difficulties i'm
my path did not enter Cleveland until
about O'Clock next morning ] had
not yet reached the business portion,
and was walking IN tho middle Of the
street, country fashion, when made a
rich find. In the dust lay thrcc dia-
mond rings, two ladies' watch chains
and several charms and lockct3. They
were scattered about as If they had fallen
from some vehicle passing over the road.
picked thcsn1up OF course, and there
being no one near me / continued on nv
way. had never found anything OF
value IN my life before, and / did not
know exactly how TO proceed. knew.
OF course, that / had no right to the
property, nor did / have the rcmotest
intention Of converting il to my use.
The trouble was that did not know cx-
actly what course 70 take, being but
young, green boy. At homo ] would
have gone TO my father or a neiQhbor
but under present circumstances / was
puzzled. had heard Of policemen, but
never saw one ] finally made up my
mind TO acccst the first opo / met aud
ask him what 70 do
About four squares beyond where I
ma found the jowclry / stopped at
Gormnn grocery 20 ask for q drink Of
water There was q boy about IA years
old Ia the store, and he told mo TO 90
around the side way 10 a pcn-stock. I
was drinking when a dog rushed at me
md was 50 determined to bite mo that
had to keep him off with my feet The
German and his wife rushed out and at
tackled me aud as got out Of the gate
policeman came up and seized me.
lhoro had been row enough 20 collect
quite q crowd, and all were against me-
The officer asked who 7 was. where I
came from, and where I was going. If
I had returned him prompt answers he
might have let mo 90, but I did not dare
tell him that ! was a runaway for fear
he would return me TO Uncle Jabcz.
therefore refused TO answer him. and he
naturally concluded I was q suspicious
character, and took me 20 the station
As / was registered they seofched me.
and when tho jcwclry came 10 light
there was great astonishmont and re-
joicing, and the charge Of grand larceny
was at once entered against me.
On the night previous a icwclry store
on Superior street had been robbed Of
large amount Of jewelry, aud the robber
had got away, leaving no clue for
the detectives This was some Of
the plumber. told them where
found Il, but as ! would not tell them
who ] was, or anything about myself,
my End was declared too thin Under
the same circumstances to-day would
do Just as tho officers did then. They
regarded my groeuncss as assumed for